A seminar on "The future of labour in new work scenarios: digital integration in collaborative and innovative work surroundings" was held on September 25, 26 and 27, 2020 in Seville, organized by CEAT (Spanish Centre for Workers' Affairs) with the support of EZA and the European Union. 60 representatives of workers' organisations, participated in the seminar, including 14 by videoconference.
SEMINAR OPENING SESSION
The following spoke at the opening session: the Honorary President of C.E.A.T., JESÚS CASADO GONZALO, who welcomed and greeted the attendees present and those connected by videoconference. Mr. JUAN IGNACIO ZOIDO, MEP, and the Co-chairman of EZA, Mr. PIERGIORGIO SCIACQUA, who had difficulty traveling on their flights due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Mr. JUAN BRAVO BAENA, Minister of Finance and European Finance of the Junta de Andalucía, who offered a vision of new technologies and digitisation in the application to the digital economy: in all productive sectors, in the labour system and in new jobs. He gave his opinion of how the incorporation of digital intelligence is taking place at the Junta de Andalucía.
FIRST PRESENTATION: ”Social Europe. What does the European Pillar offer to the Workers in the face of the uncertainties of the New Technologies to the Economy and Digitalisation".
D. JAIME DE OLANO VELA, Deputy and Member of the Budget Committee of the Congress presented the latest EU regulations on Social Europe and their application to the social economy. He also offered the objectives and priorities offered by the European Pillar on workers' rights in the face of the uncertainties of the new scenarios of the economy and digitization, the permanent change of technological variations in companies, and proposed both issues to the European institutions and to the national ones concerning a greater commitment and awareness in the defence and quality of the jobs
SECOND PRESENTATION: “The nature and organisation of the work of the new jobs in Europe: broad transversal technical competences and the capacity to adapt to change”
Dª PATRICIA NIETO ROJAS, Professor of Labour Law at the Carlos III University of Madrid spoke of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the uncertain future of employment. She exposed the value of data in the era of "BIG DATA" and the new realities of work; in the Freelance era, on the Platform, and in the Gig Economy. She also discussed how the SARS-92 pandemic affects, in addition to being a threat to public health, economic and social disturbances. She dealt with ERTES, teleworking and the skills required for workers in the 21st century.
ROUND TABLE: What is it and what will the way of working be like? Risks and opportunities of the new forms of work for young people.
This round table was dedicated to young people to express how they see the situation of permanent technological change and how it affects them and what they expect about their future work after completing their studies.
The first presentation was made by the PRESIDENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE OF C.E.A.T., Mr. CÉSAR RODRÍGUEZ QUINTANA. He has work experience, as an engineer for an aeronautical company. The situation of the young people of his generation are afraid and unmotivated due to the many difficulties they encounter when starting their first job. Faced with this fear and technological evolution, they are forced to reinvent their academic career to adapt to other professionals more in line with the new times and that often has nothing to do with their academic qualification.
D. EDUARDO PÉREZ, Graduate in Law, he followed the line set forth by the Youth President on the situation of fear and demotivation. The employment future of young people is that the educational system begins and encourages young people to prepare for ENTREPRENEURSHIP and to have the courage to start a business, since 80% of the jobs are based on entrepreneurs and SMEs.
Dª ESPERANZA VERGARA, Biology student, she referred to the scientific careers for the filters, which are implemented when finishing her studies and starting her first job. These filters force young people to be demotivated since they are forced to accept jobs that do not correspond to their preparation and also lead to precarious work.
Dª SILVIA MORILLA, Law student in the face of his future, once she finishes her studies, she is in doubt where she should direct her work preparation: if to an opposition to the Administration, to teaching or to large law firms. Currently, university studies give you knowledge, but not practical or versatile proposals that adapt to a future job.
ROUND TABLE: "The new Pillars of the EU on worker participation for the defence of labour rights and the competitive economy"
D. JOAO PAULO BRANCO, National Coordinator of BASE FUT (Portugal), spoke about good practices that Union Delegates must exercise to guarantee workers' rights. In reference to the New Pillars of the European Union, he stated that its regulations offer opportunities to workers in the participation of the company and in defence of their labour rights. Regarding union action, Unions must not only be involved in salary issues, but also in those others that affect occupational health, hygiene at work and the simplification of labour legislation.
D. SILVIU TRAIAN ISPAS National Coordinator of BASE FUT (Portugal), who spoke about good practices that Union Delegates must exercise to guarantee workers' rights. In reference to the New Pillars of the European Union, he stated that its regulations offer opportunities to workers in the participation of the company and in defence of their labour rights. Regarding union action, Unions must not only be involved in salary issues, but also in those others that affect occupational health, hygiene at work and the simplification of labour legislation.
D. BENITO CADENAS NOREÑA, Professor at the Rey Juan Carlos University, spoke of the Pandemic, as the worst moment for workers to participate and defend their labour rights. He also spoke of the social rights of workers, job insecurity and atypical contracts that affect all groups and categories of workers. Lastly, he referred to the workers and officials of the Spanish Administration, who are in a situation of confusion, since all the institutions are collapsed and without reliable administrative guidelines.
Dª EVA BABIANO AMEBILIA, Secretary of Organisation of USO of Andalusia, thanked CEAT for participating in this seminar and then spoke about new ways of working, digitisation and reconciling family life. She also spoke about business flexibility, which affects productivity and the change in labour relations in new jobs due to disconnection and virtual work, so disconnection rights must be regulated. Finally, she referred to the situation of failure of the Social Dialogue in Spain, since the two majority unions prevent the existence of union democracy.
D. MANUEL CANTARERO, Entrepreneur, is one who seeks to energise an area that has difficulties for its development, be it residential and business or industrial. The entrepreneur is that worker who functions as a company and internal client and who has and reports benefits. To be an entrepreneur you need to be endowed with empathy for the proper functioning of the company. His activity takes place in one of the most less populated areas, the Serranía de Cuenca.
PRESENTATION: "Social Europe: The European Pillar of Social Rights"
D. CARLOS URIARTE SÁNCHEZ, Professor of Law at the Rey Juan Carlos University, and Secretary General of Paneuropa. He began his presentation by talking about Social Europe, recalling the chronology in which the EU approved some of the regulations that affect employment, worker safety and social rights. Regarding the European Pillar of Social Rights, he stated that the EU should expand these rights, which affect the contents of: equal opportunities, access to the labour market, fair economic conditions, in accordance with their degree or training, professional protection and social inclusion.
PRESENTATION: "Collaborative economy and workers in the platform economy"
SR PÉREZ BORREGO, who worked in the trade union movement, made a presentation on the rights of workers in Spanish labour law. He commented the changes and the opposition by workers and Trade Unions to those changes. He then applied that legislation to the different groups of platform workers, as well as the various court rulings in favour of platform workers have been applied. He spoke about the Labour Reform and the Workers' Statute. He ended his presentation by stating that the Collaborative Economy is as old as humanity, since in reality it is based on a barter or exchange of goods and services.
SR PÉREZ SÁNCHEZ made his presentation on the economic aspect of the collaborative economy, its regulation and its commitment in defence and quality of jobs. The exchange has always existed to satisfy our needs. The collaborative economy already accounts for 1% of GDP. Digital platforms are based on sharing, exchanging or providing underused goods or services. It is a form of social exchange between individuals who come into contact and that does not imply economic benefit. It is done out of altruism. He then referred to the different types of platforms that represent disruptive innovation and modify traditional business models. The two presentations were complementary and gave a vision on the new scenarios of the collaborative economy and platforms. After the presentation, we went to lunch at 2:00 p.m
PRESENTATION: "THE ROLE OF SOCIAL AGENTS IN THE FUTURE OF EMPLOYMENT IN A NEW EUROPEAN SOCIO-ECONOMIC MODEL"
D. ISMAEL SANZ LABRADOR, Professor at the Juan Carlos University. He spoke about the academic situation of young Spaniards aged 16 to 26 and the relationship between training and employment in the face of the massive use of digitisation in emerging jobs. Without training in new technologies and languages, young people will find it difficult to access quality employment. He analysed the effect of Coronavirus on education and the labour market, since this Covid 19 crisis mainly hits the future of young people with more unemployment and worse salaries. Therefore, a balanced transition between training and work must be achieved through education-training. Social Agents must accompany the permanent changes in employment and the new socioeconomic model.